Alice Cooper can finally say, "I told you so." Jughead has joined the dark side on Riverdale Season 2 Episode 5.

The burger-loving, aspiring writer was the newest member to join the Southside Serpents. Sure, this is all part of a master plan, but he's a bad boy now. Leather jacket and all.

But was it the right choice?

As much as I hate saying this, Jughead made the smart move by joining the Southside Serpents. (I know! I'm hating myself right now.)

No one in the gang was going to listen to him. We've seen throughout Riverdale Season 2 that the group still views him as a North Riverdale transplant. Being F.P.'s son didn't change any of that.

Now that he's a member of the group, the others should (hopefully) start listening to him. He's the moral compass for a reason. The Southside Serpents would've gotten into A LOT of trouble if they had gone through with their bombing of the Riverdale Register.

Sweet Pea: Is the Northsider lost?
Jughead: I’m not. I’m over being half a Serpent.
Sweet Pea: Wow, you will do anything to protect your Northside buddies.
Jughead: My father was a Serpent. He led you. I want to stand with you guys. Tall Boy was the one who gave me this jacket, it’s time I start wearing it.
Tall Boy: So, now you want to be a Serpent, huh? Let’s see if you survive the initiation first.

• Permalink: I’m over being half a Serpent.

The initiation to become a Southside Serpent didn't seem too tough. A few punches and some memory tests was all it took. I still think job hunting and online dating takes more effort...and it hurts A LOT more.

Who wouldn't want to look after Hot Dog? Looking after a dog shouldn't be a punishment. He has a cute little face.

The other initiations, on the other hand, were more questionable. Snakes and getting beaten up is where I draw the line. Unless this were a reality show and I was getting paid, you couldn't get me to say yes.

However, Jughead took it like a champ. He was a man on a mission and completed his goal. Hopefully it was all worth it.

Toni and Jughead's kiss doesn't mean the end of Bughead. Sure, these two have chemistry and I felt the sparks long before "Chapter Eighteen: What a Stranger Calls." However, I don't see these two as endgame.

They're friends exploring a potential connection together. It's typical dating world themes.

As I mentioned during the review of Riverdale Season 2 Episode 4, Bughead has had some problems for a while. They've kept secrets from each other and now it seems they didn't meet for a long time. Distance isn't how you keep a relationship going.

I'm on board for Bughead taking a break.

Even though it is sad, these two need to work on their issues and overcome their hurdles. We've got The Black Hood issue to deal with and the trouble going on between North and South Riverdale. There is a lot going on with these two.

Was anyone else shocked that Alice Cooper was from Southside? I couldn't believe it. In hindsight, it made so much sense.

Her judgmental attitude toward the Southside, and anything that wasn't perfect, seemed too strong. Whereas other people had some sympathy, Alice was always against them. She was clearly overcompensating for her past.

This somewhat changes my opinion of her. If there was anyone who should understand the plight of Jughead, it would be Alice. They both were born in "the bad neighborhood" but they tried to change that. She never gave him a chance.

I don't like the hypocrisy. However, her queen moment arriving to the gala in serpent necklace and dress: flawless.

What were your thoughts on Nick (before the attempted rape scene)?

I hated the character. He had an egocentric quality to him where it seemed like he expected things to be handed to him because...he's Nick St. Clair. And the way he would openly flirt with Veronica in front of Archie was a scumbag move.

When he wouldn't stop with the flirting, that was irritating. When he got the group high on jingle jangle, that was reckless. But him forcing himself on Veronica and then threatening her if she didn't give in, that was despicable!

He more than deserved to get beaten up later on. I knew there was something creepy about him when he arrived with his parents.

Nick: You’re not a bad person, Veronica. You’re smart, vivacious, you’re sexy...
[He places his hand on her knee]
Veronica: Nick, I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. I’m with Archie.
Nick: Oh come on, Vee. You barely looked at that hayseed yokel all night, you were all over me.
Veronica: Nick, we’re friends. We’re old friends.
[He pushes forward and tries to kiss her]
Veronica: Nick, I mean it! Stop!
Nick: Same old Veronica. You flirt and you tease, but in the end, you think you’re better than me.
Veronica: You’re a pig.
Nick: With the power to implode this pathetic deal your criminal father so desperately trying to make happen. So unless you want that to go away, I’d be thinking of ways for you to start showing your appreciation. If you need any help, I can suggest a couple.
[She slaps him and walks away]

• Permalink: You’re a pig.

The Black Hood is seriously fixated on Betty. He either has a crush on her or he's suffering from an obsession. It's the only way to describe his attitude.

He was following all the typical signs of being a predator. And it's working because she's cutting people out of her life.

The fact The Black Hood is someone we recognize narrows the playing field going forward. We'll need to do a major suspect list of people we've seen. My money is still on someone from North Riverdale.

Also, great choice for the ringtone music! Playing "Lollipop" was the perfect mix of Riverdale cheerfulness and horror movie creep factor.

The Black Hood: Give me another name. Right now!
Betty: What?
The Black Hood: If you want to save your sister, give me another name. The name of someone guilty. Come on, Betty, one little name.
Betty: I won’t. I can’t do that.
The Black Hood: Then I’ll kill your sister...and your mother...and your father...and everyone you hold dear!
Betty: Nick St. Clair. He’s staying at the Five Seasons.
The Black Hood: I told you we were the same.

• Permalink: I told you we were the same.

My heart broke when Betty ended things with Veronica and Jughead.

This was so cruel! It's no secret that I've been won over by these two relationships. The Bughead romance is pure love, and the Betty and Veronica friendship is iconic. You can't have Riverdale/Archie Comics without it.

While it is hard to see, Betty showed that she is her mother's daughter.

She went right for the jugular to hurt Veronica where it counts. Our favorite ponytail-wearing Nancy Drew knows how to channel her inner-ice princess.

If you all need a minute to clear away the tears after Riverdale Season 2 Episode 5, I will give you some time. The emotions were strong here. Bughead drama was at peak heartbreaking.

It's sad that their reunion foreshadowed their eventual breakup.

When Betty and Jughead had their tender moment at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe, I had a feeling trouble was heading their way. Their dialogue, and the longing silence in between, was too eerie for the scene. It's almost as if the characters were saying goodbye before actually breaking up.

Archie: I came here to tell you to stay away from Betty. She doesn’t want to see you anymore.
Jughead: Screw you. I just saw Betty yesterday! She was fine.
Archie: No, dude, she’s been wanting to break up for weeks. She’s been agonizing over it since you crossed to the dark side. She couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Jughead: So she sent you? Betty would never do that!
Archie: If you don’t believe me, call her! And feel free to tell her you’re a Serpent now too, I bet she’ll love that. She saw where you were headed. Okay, we all did and she knows you can’t be with her and with them. Come on, man, you know it too.

• Permalink: I came here to tell you to stay away from Betty. She doesn’t want to see you anymore.

And, regardless of what anyone says, breaking up through a friend is worse! You don't text, email, leave a voicemail, call, have a friend do it, or send a breakup delivery message. These are big no nos.

I get that Betty was heartbroken, but having Archie do it was wrong.

Why couldn't Archie, Veronica and Jughead be in on the plan?

If they were pulled aside in a private place, The Black Hood would've never known. It seems shortsighted to keep certain people out of the loop for these big decisions. And it's reckless since The Black Hood is a known killer.

The only possibility is the potential of Betty's house being bugged and surveillance. Wait...that's a good theory...

It's time to admit this in writing: I love musicals.

Give me any big shows from Broadway to small improv groups, I like seeing people sing. Watching Josie and the Pussycats perform a song from Rent made me smile. They did a great job of the cover.

Also, pairing it with them saving the day was the perfect touch.

Nick St. Clair is the worst. He deserved to get shut down by Veronica and Josie and the Pussycats.

I'm glad the group saved Cheryl in time. It's great to see them comfort her and be there for her in her time of need. She's already been through so much with Jason's death and her father being a murderer, this would've hurt her to her core if Nick had gotten away with the crime.

Side-note: Kudos to the editing for the fight scene. Veronica, Josie and the Pussycats did not hold back when stopping Nick. They kicked him a lot!

I don't hold anything against Betty for giving Nick's name to The Black Hood.

Her hands were tied. We'd either lose Polly, Alice and Hal in his place instead of a date rapist. Betty made the only decision she could do with the forced threats against her and the time given.

Now that she's given him the info, does that mean we'll be seeing Nick die on Riverdale Season 2 Episode 6?

I would think so. Let's brace ourselves for the potential next murder scene, Riverdale fans.

What did you think of "Chapter Eighteen: When a Stranger Calls"? Will Jughead learn the truth of why Betty broke up with him? Are Nick's days numbered? Will Cheryl get revenge on Nick first?

If you missed the latest episode of Riverdale, you can watch Riverdale online via TV Fanatic. Come back here and let us know what you think.

Justin Carreiro was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.